5GS-EPS Interworking QoS Rule Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of 5G New Radio (NR) access networks with evolved packet systems (EPS) faces limitations in geographical coverage, leading to instability in session management during inter-system changes, particularly when a mobile device moves out of 5G coverage and relies on EPS for connectivity, resulting in potential errors in Quality of Service (QoS) rule associations and bearer contexts.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for error checking and handling in user equipment (UE) that receive Quality of Service (QoS) rule-related information, determining if the default EPS bearer context is associated with a default QoS rule, and performing error handling operations such as transmitting NAS messages or deleting QoS rules to ensure correct QoS flow parameter mappings during inter-system changes between EPS and 5G systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If inter-system change between 5GS and EPS is implemented to extend geographical coverage, then coverage area is improved, but session management stability deteriorates due to QoS rule association errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary validation of QoS rule associations before completing the inter-system change. The UE checks whether default EPS bearer contexts are properly associated with default QoS rules and whether dedicated EPS bearer contexts are not associated with default QoS rules before finalizing the session transfer. This preliminary action prevents session management errors from occurring during the handover process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE validates QoS parameter mappings during inter-system changes and reports errors to the network. The error handling process includes detecting QoS rule association errors and transmitting error cause information back to the network, enabling corrective actions to maintain session management stability across system boundaries.
2Manufacturing precision
If QoS rule associations are strictly validated during inter-system changes, then session management accuracy is improved, but error handling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different validation rules to different types of EPS bearer contexts. Default EPS bearer contexts are validated to ensure they are associated with default QoS rules, while dedicated EPS bearer contexts are validated to ensure they are not associated with default QoS rules. This localized quality approach tailors the strictness of validation to the specific bearer context type, improving accuracy without uniformly increasing complexity across all bearers.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of checking errors in parameters configured to a user equipment (UE). The method can include receiving at the UE a quality of service (QoS) rule related IE or the QoS flow description related IE for modifying or creating a QoS rule or a QoS flow description associated with an evolved packet system (EPS) bearer context of a packet data network (PDN) connection. The PDN connection can have a default EPS bearer context and optionally a dedicated EPS bearer context. It is determined whether the default EPS bearer context of the PDN connection is associated with a default QoS rule. When it is determined that the default EPS bearer context of the PDN connection is not associated with the default QoS rule, an error handling operation is performed.